Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ/Answers about Johns Island Elementary School:
When will the school open and what grades does it serve?
- The school will open in August 2025 and will serve grades 2, 3, 4 and 5. We are a neighborhood school and you must be zoned for our school in order to attend. You can check your school zoning at this link: https://www.croppermap.com/charleston/
What are the school hours of operation?
● School hours are 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Car riders must be dropped off no earlier than 8:05 am and no later than 8:30 a.m. in order to be considered on time for school. Students are tardy after 8:30 a.m. Students may be signed out from the office no later than 3:00 PM, after that they must wait for car and bus riders to be dismissed for the day. Dismissal begins at 3:20 p.m. Please try not to sign students out early unless absolutely necessary. Late arrival, early dismissal and absences are tracked as a part of our truancy requirements.
Car and Bus rider information:
● There are bus routes to and from Johns Island ES daily. Please visit the Transportation/First Student website to find out what bus your child rides and the pick up/drop off location at this link:https://www.ccsdschools.com/faculty-staff/departments-and-offices/operations/transportation
Bus numbers and colors will also be shared in the Family/Parent Resource folder once available.
● All parents of car riders must fill out a form to be handed into the office and have a car tag/pass in their car each day (You can get this at Meet and Greet in August). If you do not have a car tag, your child will only be released to you after showing ID in the front office. Parents may begin lining up for pick up at 2:45 pm and students will be dismissed beginning at 3:20 p.m. There is to be no smoking or loud music in the car rider line.
- More information about the flow of car line will be shared before school begins.
- Please be patient when dropping off and picking up your child. Remember, there are over 680+ children coming and going each day. Safety is our number one priority.
Can students be signed out of school early?
● We want students to be in attendance at school as much as possible, however, we know that appointments and other obligations come up from time to time. If you need to sign a child out early, please try to give their teacher advanced notice via Class Dojo. All students must be signed out in the office in order to be picked up early. Late arrival, early dismissal and absences are tracked as a part of our truancy requirements.
What are our before and after school care options?
● Students are eligible to attend Kaleidoscope (CCSD’s fee-based before and after school program) if extended care is needed. You can find out about Kaleidoscope programs at this link: https://www.ccsdschools.com/divisions/operations/kaleidoscope-expanded-learning
How many teachers/students are in a classroom? Do grade levels departmentalize?
● All classrooms in grades 2-5 have one teacher. There may be co-teachers in classes that serve students with disabilities, multilingual learners and students needing math and/or reading intervention services. Grades 2 and 3 can have a maximum of 25 students. Grades 4 and 5 can have a maximum of 28 students. Grades 4 and 5 are the only grades that departmentalize (students have 2 teachers: one for ELA/SS and one for Math/Science)
When will I know and meet my child’s classroom teacher?
● Class lists will be posted on the exterior doors of the school before school starts in August. Parents and students will have the opportunity to meet their classroom teacher at our “Meet and Greet” event. See the school website or Facebook page for dates and more information as it becomes available.
What is in place in terms of security, unauthorized access at school?
● Student safety is of the utmost importance at Johns Island Elementary. The school follows clear security guidelines enforced by the Charleston County School District in partnership with our local police departments. Teachers and other school staff are required to wear badges at all times. They are also trained on security measures pertaining to building threats and safety. These procedures are practiced regularly to ensure the safety of students in case of an emergency. Our policy requires all visitors to check-in using a screening system in the front office before gaining access to any other areas of the school. Visitors are required to wear a visitor’s pass. Anyone working on the school campus must undergo a background check. We have a full-time SRO on campus.
What is the uniform policy for next year? Will a dress code be enforced?
● Students are welcome to wear uniforms, however, this is not required. We will follow the district dress code which can be found on page 51 of the Student Code of Conduct at this link: https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1724168339/ccsdschoolscom/ghsese7a0lwt1lj0a8cy/StudentCodeofConduct_2024-25_aug12.pdf
● There will be days where other attire is appropriate (spirit days, dress up days, field trips, etc.)
What curriculum resources does the school use?
Reading/ELA: grades 2-5
CKLA:
https://amplify.com/caregiver-hub/amplify-ckla/
https://amplify.com/programs/amplify-core-knowledge-language-arts/faqs/
https://amplify.com/research-and-case-studies/amplify-ckla-research/
LETRs implementation (grades 1-3)
Reading intervention for qualifying students
Math: grades K-5
Eureka Math: https://greatminds.org/math/eurekamath?state=South%2520Carolina
Math intervention for qualifying students
Science and Social Studies: K-5
Year-at-a-glance curriculum guides based on SC State standards
Interdisciplinary studies with Reading and Math
HMH into Science/Science Kits
Social Studies SAVVAS and Gismos
Social-Emotional Learning: grades K-5
Second Step:https://www.secondstep.org/elementary-school-curriculum/classroom-kits
Fine Arts, Health and PE: See state standards at link below
**All curriculum is aligned to SC State Standards which you can find at this link: https://ed.sc.gov/instruction/standards-learning/
What related arts classes will be offered this year?
● All students will have the opportunity to attend PE, music, drama, art, library, and Makerspace. Strings will be offered as a special elective. Students may also be selected for accelerated classes. Other club opportunities which meet before and after school include ukulele, chorus, melodica, soccer, tennis, school musical, Green Team and more!
What other events does the school have?
- Some of our yearly events include our Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, our Holiday Shop, PTA Movie Nights, school dances, our Black History Month Celebration, Read-a-thon, One School/One Book, Arts Showcases, Field Days, and more!
Can I walk with my child to class?
● You may not walk your child to class. This is part of growing each child's independence. There will be plenty of smiling staff faces at the door to help your child as needed:)
Can I eat lunch with my child?
- Yes! Please contact your child’s teacher FIRST (24 hrs. In advance) to let them know you plan on coming to avoid scheduling conflicts, etc.
Can I send in treats for my child’s birthday?
● Yes, but treats must be store bought due to allergies in the school. Treats may be sent in with the student or parents can arrange to drop off treats at lunch or the last 15 minutes of the school day. Please make arrangements with your child’s teacher at least 24 hours in advance if you plan to bring a treat.
How can I be more involved in my child’s education?
● Great question! All parents are encouraged to join the PTA and have frequent communication with classroom teachers. The School Improvement Council (SIC) also offers parents an opportunity to be involved in an advisory role.
****For more detailed information, please visit our Parent/Family Resource folder. Here you will find the student handbook and many other resources to help you throughout the year.